Tactile stimulus has a huge impact on the development of infants and young children. Children who are rarely hold or touched will have a delay in motor and cognitive development. Scientists had conducted an experiment on two new born monkey babies. One lived alone while the other lived with its mother. After six months, the one that climbed around its mother was healthy and lively. The one that lived alone was anxious, tense and in poor physical condition. Starting from the infancy, touch from family members is important stimulation for baby’s growth.

The most common tactile stimulus people think of is using hand - to distinguish cold, hot, soft, hard, rough, and smooth objects. In fact, the sense of touch is considered later development. For infants and young children, the greater need is placed on tactile stimulation of the body, such as hugging, body contact, touch, gentle press and so on. Through heavier touch on larger area, we can calm down the children and provide the sense of security, then promote neural development. The following activities are designed for infants and young children to provide tactile stimulation and to promote motor development. Parents or teachers can process the activities based on children’s condition. It will have an unexpected effect on future emotional relief.

(1)Activity name: Magic Carpet

Applicable age: 3 months and above

Activity Goal: promotes children’s tactile development in different parts of body.

Activity one: Following the rhythm of nursery songs, adults take a tactile ball and massage children’s whole body. Adults and children may exchange roles and let children do the massage.

Activity two: Let children take large, medium and small tactile balls to massage hands, arms or feet. With the music playing, children may also grasp, grip, squeeze, push, press, roll, throw, catch, or toss balls in different sizes. Stop when the music stops.

Reminder: Adjust ball size, activity time and content based on children’s reactions.

(3)Activity name: Walking on stilts

Applicable age: above 2.5 years old

Activity goal:

Promote the development of movement balance.

Enhance the control of body muscle.

Promote the tactile development.

Activities:

Activity one: prepares several stepping stones, either side can be up. Adults demonstrate stepping on stones, then children can imitate. Before children are skillful with the stepping stone, parents can lead children to walk.

Activity two: fixes the ropes on both sides of stepping stones. Hold the ropes while feet stepping on stones. Like walking on stilts, hold and pull the ropes when walking forward.

Recommend Equipment: Weplay stepping stones, sand in the park, children’s walking path, or any stones or things that are safe to step on.

Reminder: Adults may adjust the quantity and the distance of stepping stones according to children’s reaction.

(4)Activity name: Multicolored

Applicable age: 2 years old and above

Activity goal:

Enhance body movement coordination.

Enhance the sense of balance.

Develop spatial concepts.

Provides the tactile stimulation.

Provides the opportunity to recognize colors.

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Activity:

1. Place colored hand & foot print on mats (place these prints in suitable distance according to children’s age).

2. Teachers say the instruction for children to follow. For example: foot on yellow prints, hand on blue prints.

3. Children can’t move until teachers check the posture, and then they’ll wait for the next instruction.